Birthing in Our Community (BiOC) is a multi-agency partnership between Brisbane’s Mater Mothers’ Hospital and two local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled health services – the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health (IUIH) and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service Brisbane (ATSICHS Brisbane).The program provides comprehensive and culturally safe maternal and infant health services, which contribute to ‘closing the gap’ in maternal and infant health outcomes in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
About BiOC
BiOC delivers a unique model of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led care to mothers pregnant with or raising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander babies. It provides Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women with access to their own midwife and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family support worker throughout each mother’s pregnancy, birth and up until the child is three years of age.
The role of the family support workers is to support each mother to recognise and break down the barriers that may be preventing her from engaging with health service supports. They also support each mother to access appropriate care throughout the critical stages of her child’s life and to feel empowered and confident in her new role as a parent.
Services
BiOC South is supported by an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce and is based out of a culturally safe and welcoming community-based hub at Salisbury, giving access to:
- Dedicated Family Support Practitioners
- Dedicated Midwifery Team where a known midwife will birth the baby
- Culturally intrinsic parenting model which supports connection, belonging and cultural growth
- Social health; a social worker and psychologist to support social and emotional wellbeing
- Transportation to services and appointments
- Cultural connection
Information about BiOC South Hub
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Information about BiOC North, Logan and Bayside Hubs
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